Pikas (Ochotona), which live at more than 3,000 meters above sea level, are thought to be the only animal which can serve as a model for high-altitude adaptation.In 1994, a survey group was sent to Ulan Bator and ecological survey was conducted in Ondor Dawaa and the Gruvan Saikhanii mountains in the southern part of the Gobi desert with the cooperation of Dr.I.Samiya, the Institute of Biology, National University of Mongolia.At Ondor Dawaa, 6 Ochotona daurica were captured.Telemeters were implanted in 3 of these animals and their temperature were determined in the wild.Removal of the pikas from the country was negotiated with the Mongolian Environmental Ministry, and 16 Ochotona daurica were brought to Japan, and laboratory breeding of them was attempted by Dr.T.Matsuzaki.A survey team was also sent to Ulan Bator to obtain wild Ochotona daurica in 1995.Ten pikas could be brought to Japan and determination of body temperatures of them was continued with the National University of Mongo
… Morelia.It was evident that many interesting pikas live in China.However, it is difficult to remove wild animals from China.To overcome these difficulties, a survey team was sent to Mongolia in the present study.Since no progress was made in rearing and breeding Ochotona curzoniae in Shanghai, attention was turned to the Chinese miniature pig as a prospective new laboratory animal.In 1994, a survey team was sent to Shanghai, Yun Nan Sheng, Guang Dong sheng and Guang Dong sheng provinces and various type of miniature pigs under breeding were investigated.These miniature pigs were smaller than domestic pigs, but it was assumed that they would be more difficult to bring to Japan than wild animals.In 1995, facilities were prepared at the Shanghai Laboratory Animal Center and three types of Chinese miniature pig were introduced.中国小型ブタについては、中国科学院上海実験動物中心の施設を整備し、雲南省西双版納の微形豚、広西省原産の香豚(上海種豚場)、貴州香豚(上海種豚場)の3種を導入し、同一飼育条件による発育試験を行った。また、世界の野生動物実験動物化に関する情報調査のため、中国青海省に酒井班員、北米には野村班員を派遣した。以上、高地適応動物モデルとしてのナキウサギ調査研究は第I期(平成元年〜3年度)、第II期(平成4〜5年度)。第III期(平成6〜7年度)研究の節目を向かえることになった。中国には青海省を中心に多数の興味あるナキウサギが生息することがわかった。しかし、中国野生動物の持出しは難しく、これらの実験動物化を行うために上海での繁殖を試みたが不成功におわった。この状態を打破するために、III期にはモンゴル共和国に調査隊を派遣し、野生ナキウサギを本邦に持込むことができた。現在、室内飼育は成功し、新たな個体も導入され繁殖が期待されている。新しい実験動物候補中国小型ブタについては最小種であるといわれている版納微形豚、貴州香豚、広西香豚の同一条件での比較が始めて行われている。 Less